Elise Mertens vs Elena Rybakina Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Brisbane

Prediction published on 03/01/2024, 12:05  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 03/01/2024 at 13:06 in Tennis Predictions

Second seed Elena Rybakina bids to make it into the last eight of the Brisbane International. The second seed is up against Elise Mertens who is seeded 13th for this tournament. For the winner there's a last eight match against either sixth seed Veronika Kudermetova or 11th seeded Anastasia Potapova. Rybakina was ranked fourth at the start of this WTA 500 event but isn't too far behind Coco Gauff in third. The 24-year-old won two titles last year and also lost in the Australian Open final and the Miami WTA 1000 tournament. The year ended with Rybakina getting to the semi-finals of the China Open in October, including a win over then world number one Aryna Sabalenka. This tournament began for her with a straight sets win over qualifier Olivia Gadecki, losing just five games.

Elise Mertens began 2024 ranked 30th in the world but is up a place after reaching round three of the Brisbane International. The Belgian had a real struggle though after losing the first set to unseeded Sloane Stephens 6-2. A good recovery was made though with only four games dropped in the next two. Last year saw Mertens slip to 42nd at one stage One WTA singles title was won in 2023 as she won the Jasmin Open in Tunisia for the second year running. Only one of her four previous matches against Rybakina have been won. All of Rybakina's wins have come on hard courts and we go for another one in this match.